Its Summer 2012. Slap bang in the middle of the European Championships and its England vs Italy in the quarter-finals. I'm sat at home with a few mates and boxes of pizza watching on the TV as, apart from the first ten minutes, Italy walk all over England in a game that somehow finished 0-0. It went to penalties, and inevitably, we lost.
I can only imagine if England footballers knew how to take penalty kicks under pressure, I would have started this post in a much different fashion. But because they can't, the scenes that unfolded became one of Bedford's most embarrassing nights. You see, Bedford has the highest population of Italians per capita in the United Kingdom, and when they come face to face in a sporting competition, the rivalry has that extra edge to it. Rivalry is all well and good of course, but not when it spills over. England's defeat led to trouble on a scale I had never seen, and I was pretty glad I wasn't out in town as a riot broke out. Cars were smashed up, people were injured and it was carnage. It was the main story on BBC News for a couple of days, and all in all, it just wasn't very nice.
Just for your information, England face Italy again this year, in the upcoming World Cup, and its scheduled to take place at 11pm on a Saturday night. Best of luck to Bedfordshire Police.
Saturday nights are always a bit over the top here. Usually, as if it needs saying, I'm a wee bit merry and don't notice it as much, but for the past month, I haven't been. Last night, for what will be the final time on a night out for the foreseeable future, I was stone cold sober, and we ended up in Yates. I haven't been there for ages on a Saturday night, and after ten minutes I was reminded why. You could see the eyes pop out of guy's heads as they stared at girls dressed in nothing walk past them, despite it being below freezing outside. Obviously, said girls would complain about it. But I won't go there. There was pushing and shoving at the bar, arguments breaking out, and people acting like general idiots, while I, wondering what I was doing, shuffled around awkwardly in a circle dancing to music I had never heard before. I've been doing this for the past month of course, but there was tension in the air. Last night in Bedford town, there was an (alleged) murder, three fights, (that amounted to a number of serious injuries), and the bar next door to Yates was tear-gassed.
Yes, you did read that right. Tear gas.
I was home before 1am. Which is a first for me, but for the first time ever, I felt properly uneasy out and about. I could feel it in the air.
As for the Dryathlon, I have raised £240-99 of my £250 target so far, (I was docked 1p of a donation for refusing to go out on Friday night!), and it ends at midnight this Friday night/Saturday morning. Frankly, I can't wait. Although... I am a tad apprehensive at what awaits... I have been promised many presents...
Have a good week.
Sunday 26 January 2014
Saturday 18 January 2014
The Sobriety Wall
"You know me, I love a bit of charity. Sponsoring you to NOT get rat arsed for a month though? Here's an idea, don't drink for a month and donate all the money you save to charity. Or, use that money to buy some trainers and RUN THE BLAAAAAADY MARATHON."
Radio 1 DJ Greg James there. I'm a big fan of his and I listen to his drive time show pretty much every day as I long for 5:30pm in what is becoming the most mediocre of jobs. As most people know, I am one of these people. Being sponsored to not drink for a month. There is both a positive and a negative to it.
The positives are obvious. "Feeling healthier", a brighter bank balance and the day after hangover-free, and there you have it. The trio of reasons why people don't drink in the first place. But as we enter the 18th day of the 1st month of the year, the negatives are coming to the fore. And I'm afraid there are a few.
1) It's just boring. I've always gone out on a weekend. More recently, on both Friday and Saturday nights, as the alternative is staying in, and that's just crap. Socialising is much better than a night in with your remote. Socialising is much better with a bit of alcohol flowing around the system. This is a fact. Without alcohol, its merely a show of watching people sink into their drinking trousers, and after a few weeks of watching this, it just gets boring. Have I mentioned its boring?
2) I've got to a stage, ironically as I type this post, that I feel like I can't really complain about it. As Mr. James says above, being sponsored NOT to do something? How easy is that? People run marathons, complete triathlons, climb mountains and trek through the Arctic for sponsors. THAT'S tough. Not drinking for a month? "Come off it..." people say. Anyone can do that. But for someone who almost lives for the weekends, it just feels like I've got no inspiration for the working week, or something to look forward to on a Monday morning. And that's also very crap.
3) My friends are carrying on. I just feel a bit ... Left out. Almost like the feeling of being picked last for the playground game of football. Although that was never me... Former Luton Town School of Excellence don't you know .... Okay, now I'm just boasting. Sorry.
4) I can't just cheat. People have donated near enough £200 of their own money in total towards Cancer Research UK. People have just said, "Well I won't tell anyone, go on!", and it has been tempting. It really has. But I don't really want to dupe people out of their money. There have been times where I've been with a whole group of people who don't know I'm doing the Dryathlon. Who would have known if I had had a JD and coke? No one. But then that would defeat the object.
Apparently, if I did cave in, I'd have to donate the total of my sponsors myself. I can't really afford to pay nearly £200 for a JD and Coke... We're not in bloody Soho...
5-ish) February the 1st. Yes, I think this is a negative, and now I shall tell you why. I am looking forward to that day. Yes, its a Saturday, and yes, I will be drinking, but already, people have said, "I'll buy you a drink". Probably about 5 or 6 people have said it. And therein lies the problem. I think February the 2nd isn't going to be very nice. I know its within my control, but I just KNOW that I won't be able to control the excitement of it, and I'll get carried away. What's more, after a whole month of sobriety, I will have the liver of an 18-year old again. It's not going to end well is it?
But most of all, the weekends have just become boring. And with the working week becoming more and more boring by the day, and a week where a job I was asked to apply for just backfired, it hasn't really been one of the best weeks. But hey, look at the positives. Its January, and mentally I'm fine. I've no idea how, or why, but my mind is clear of troubles, and I'm coasting along pretty damn nicely. Every cloud hey...
Onwards!
Radio 1 DJ Greg James there. I'm a big fan of his and I listen to his drive time show pretty much every day as I long for 5:30pm in what is becoming the most mediocre of jobs. As most people know, I am one of these people. Being sponsored to not drink for a month. There is both a positive and a negative to it.
The positives are obvious. "Feeling healthier", a brighter bank balance and the day after hangover-free, and there you have it. The trio of reasons why people don't drink in the first place. But as we enter the 18th day of the 1st month of the year, the negatives are coming to the fore. And I'm afraid there are a few.
1) It's just boring. I've always gone out on a weekend. More recently, on both Friday and Saturday nights, as the alternative is staying in, and that's just crap. Socialising is much better than a night in with your remote. Socialising is much better with a bit of alcohol flowing around the system. This is a fact. Without alcohol, its merely a show of watching people sink into their drinking trousers, and after a few weeks of watching this, it just gets boring. Have I mentioned its boring?
2) I've got to a stage, ironically as I type this post, that I feel like I can't really complain about it. As Mr. James says above, being sponsored NOT to do something? How easy is that? People run marathons, complete triathlons, climb mountains and trek through the Arctic for sponsors. THAT'S tough. Not drinking for a month? "Come off it..." people say. Anyone can do that. But for someone who almost lives for the weekends, it just feels like I've got no inspiration for the working week, or something to look forward to on a Monday morning. And that's also very crap.
3) My friends are carrying on. I just feel a bit ... Left out. Almost like the feeling of being picked last for the playground game of football. Although that was never me... Former Luton Town School of Excellence don't you know .... Okay, now I'm just boasting. Sorry.
4) I can't just cheat. People have donated near enough £200 of their own money in total towards Cancer Research UK. People have just said, "Well I won't tell anyone, go on!", and it has been tempting. It really has. But I don't really want to dupe people out of their money. There have been times where I've been with a whole group of people who don't know I'm doing the Dryathlon. Who would have known if I had had a JD and coke? No one. But then that would defeat the object.
Apparently, if I did cave in, I'd have to donate the total of my sponsors myself. I can't really afford to pay nearly £200 for a JD and Coke... We're not in bloody Soho...
5-ish) February the 1st. Yes, I think this is a negative, and now I shall tell you why. I am looking forward to that day. Yes, its a Saturday, and yes, I will be drinking, but already, people have said, "I'll buy you a drink". Probably about 5 or 6 people have said it. And therein lies the problem. I think February the 2nd isn't going to be very nice. I know its within my control, but I just KNOW that I won't be able to control the excitement of it, and I'll get carried away. What's more, after a whole month of sobriety, I will have the liver of an 18-year old again. It's not going to end well is it?
But most of all, the weekends have just become boring. And with the working week becoming more and more boring by the day, and a week where a job I was asked to apply for just backfired, it hasn't really been one of the best weeks. But hey, look at the positives. Its January, and mentally I'm fine. I've no idea how, or why, but my mind is clear of troubles, and I'm coasting along pretty damn nicely. Every cloud hey...
Onwards!
Monday 13 January 2014
The January Dryathlon
12 whole days without Jack Daniels so far. Its a repeat performance from last year for my liver, as I take on the dry January again, but this time, its for charity.
I've still got 19 days to go, but the good news is, its Sunday evening. I have survived a second weekend without touching any sort of alcohol, and I'm pretty pleased about that. There have been temptations. There have been times when I just wanted to have a drink and relax those shoulders a bit. There's even been drinks forced on me. The barman offered a few free drinks in my direction to try and tempt me, but I refused!
I am doing this for a reason though. Sure, my liver and my bank balance will get a well-deserved rest, but more importantly, I am raising money for Cancer Research UK. A couple of my friends are feeling the roughness of the battle with cancer at the moment, and I want to show them I can be there for them.
I would really appreciate a sponsor. Even if its just the cost of a pint of your best or a glass of vino, every penny really does help. I am over halfway to my target now, and it will get more difficult to resist!
Even in sobriety, I can't help but sound like an alcoholic can I....
Merely click on the button below to take you to the page! It takes two minutes! Thank you :)
I've still got 19 days to go, but the good news is, its Sunday evening. I have survived a second weekend without touching any sort of alcohol, and I'm pretty pleased about that. There have been temptations. There have been times when I just wanted to have a drink and relax those shoulders a bit. There's even been drinks forced on me. The barman offered a few free drinks in my direction to try and tempt me, but I refused!
I am doing this for a reason though. Sure, my liver and my bank balance will get a well-deserved rest, but more importantly, I am raising money for Cancer Research UK. A couple of my friends are feeling the roughness of the battle with cancer at the moment, and I want to show them I can be there for them.
I would really appreciate a sponsor. Even if its just the cost of a pint of your best or a glass of vino, every penny really does help. I am over halfway to my target now, and it will get more difficult to resist!
Even in sobriety, I can't help but sound like an alcoholic can I....
Merely click on the button below to take you to the page! It takes two minutes! Thank you :)
Sunday 5 January 2014
The Ashes
Three months later, from England dominance,
Came another series, with more prominence.
Five test matches, in the searing heat.
Who would beat who, and who would defeat...?
England were favourites, with recent domination
Botham predicted "whitewash!", complete cremation.
But the Aussies were never going to lie down,
In the face of adversity, they rarely drown.
It started in Brisbane, at the Gabbatoir.
The coloured seats can be seen from afar.
Broad got 6 in the very first innings,
Punters grew confident of their English winnings...
The pitch was good, and runs should be scored
Even if it meant the fans would get bored.
But Mitchell Johnson had a different plan,
And it left England so overran...
The Three Lions said goodbye to Trott,
A huge loss for England and the number 3 spot.
And so on to Adelaide, and test number two,
Could the Aussies get turning that screw?
It started off well for the English boys,
There were a lot of wickets, and lots of joys,
But Haddin bounced back, with a huge assault
And once again, England were at fault.
A thrashing ensued, and questions were posed
Of Captain Cook, with his team exposed.
England had to win at Perth,
If the series was to keep its worth...
The third test arrived, on an absolute belter
Clarke won the toss and let England swelter.
The Aussies were winning, oh yet again...
The series gone, the pain over, amen.
But yet we continue, on to Boxing Day
With the England team in complete disarray.
But for once, we led after innings one,
Only to be pegged back, by a Chris Rogers ton.
4-0 up with one test to play,
Could England put in a decent display?
The pink test in Sydney, an awesome event
Could England avoid complete torment?
Wholesale changes, with the future in mind,
Even if Root was strangely sidelined.
The SCG, all lit up in pink,
With England completely on the brink...
Same old story for the English lads,
Cook forgot his bat and used his pads.
Bell and KP forgot to survive,
And left England on sod-all for five...
The Aussies were laughing, hell bent on torture
Their series really has been a scorcher.
But another defeat for Cook and his team,
May be the end of his defensive regime...
An embarrassing defeat of five to zero,
Mitchell was madness, Haddin the hero.
The English batsman should really all quit,
Because this whole series has been completely ****!
Came another series, with more prominence.
Five test matches, in the searing heat.
Who would beat who, and who would defeat...?
England were favourites, with recent domination
Botham predicted "whitewash!", complete cremation.
But the Aussies were never going to lie down,
In the face of adversity, they rarely drown.
It started in Brisbane, at the Gabbatoir.
The coloured seats can be seen from afar.
Broad got 6 in the very first innings,
Punters grew confident of their English winnings...
The pitch was good, and runs should be scored
Even if it meant the fans would get bored.
But Mitchell Johnson had a different plan,
And it left England so overran...
The Three Lions said goodbye to Trott,
A huge loss for England and the number 3 spot.
And so on to Adelaide, and test number two,
Could the Aussies get turning that screw?
It started off well for the English boys,
There were a lot of wickets, and lots of joys,
But Haddin bounced back, with a huge assault
And once again, England were at fault.
A thrashing ensued, and questions were posed
Of Captain Cook, with his team exposed.
England had to win at Perth,
If the series was to keep its worth...
The third test arrived, on an absolute belter
Clarke won the toss and let England swelter.
The Aussies were winning, oh yet again...
The series gone, the pain over, amen.
But yet we continue, on to Boxing Day
With the England team in complete disarray.
But for once, we led after innings one,
Only to be pegged back, by a Chris Rogers ton.
4-0 up with one test to play,
Could England put in a decent display?
The pink test in Sydney, an awesome event
Could England avoid complete torment?
Wholesale changes, with the future in mind,
Even if Root was strangely sidelined.
The SCG, all lit up in pink,
With England completely on the brink...
Same old story for the English lads,
Cook forgot his bat and used his pads.
Bell and KP forgot to survive,
And left England on sod-all for five...
The Aussies were laughing, hell bent on torture
Their series really has been a scorcher.
But another defeat for Cook and his team,
May be the end of his defensive regime...
An embarrassing defeat of five to zero,
Mitchell was madness, Haddin the hero.
The English batsman should really all quit,
Because this whole series has been completely ****!
Friday 3 January 2014
Settling In
Welcome to 2014.
I feel like I'm about to tempt fate here, but January is usually the time the S.A.D kicks in. I'm yet to feel any signs of it. Even earlier today, I started thinking the impossible. Maybe I've been misdiagnosed and the stages I've had in the past have merely been coincidental with the time of the year? Its strange that these stages are hitting later and later each year. Now that I feel like I've earned things in life now I'm truly independent, I might feel much better about myself and feel like I deserve things more. We shall see. But I'm quietly optimistic.
New Year's Eve was immense. I started drinking as soon as I got home from work, (yes, that's 4:30pm) and didn't stop for 12 hours. New Year's Day wasn't pretty. But those massive amounts of alcohol were my last for a month as I tackle the Dryathlon. No alcohol for a month, saving money and my liver for the time being, and also raising a bit for Cancer Research along the way.
You can donate here: www.justgiving.com/mitten2014 - Please give anything you can. It might seem like the simplest of challenges compared to some others you see, (There is currently a British man running the width of Canada dressed as The Flash...), but that's not really the point. There's a charity involved, and a damn good one at that. And have you seen how difficult it is for me to resist Jack Daniels at the weekends? Exactly!
A couple of other changes coming up soon aswell, most notably a considered and non-rushed approach to finding a new job. I need something busier, more active and ultimately more rewarding. There's no time limit though.
Back to watching the 5th and final Ashes test, (finally), where we have started off in a mediocre enough fashion but will no doubt let ourselves down with the bat again. I was reminded earlier this evening that I said, before the series began, that I will donate my liver to science if we lost the Ashes series 5-0.
Scientists. Grab your lab coats.
I feel like I'm about to tempt fate here, but January is usually the time the S.A.D kicks in. I'm yet to feel any signs of it. Even earlier today, I started thinking the impossible. Maybe I've been misdiagnosed and the stages I've had in the past have merely been coincidental with the time of the year? Its strange that these stages are hitting later and later each year. Now that I feel like I've earned things in life now I'm truly independent, I might feel much better about myself and feel like I deserve things more. We shall see. But I'm quietly optimistic.
New Year's Eve was immense. I started drinking as soon as I got home from work, (yes, that's 4:30pm) and didn't stop for 12 hours. New Year's Day wasn't pretty. But those massive amounts of alcohol were my last for a month as I tackle the Dryathlon. No alcohol for a month, saving money and my liver for the time being, and also raising a bit for Cancer Research along the way.
You can donate here: www.justgiving.com/mitten2014 - Please give anything you can. It might seem like the simplest of challenges compared to some others you see, (There is currently a British man running the width of Canada dressed as The Flash...), but that's not really the point. There's a charity involved, and a damn good one at that. And have you seen how difficult it is for me to resist Jack Daniels at the weekends? Exactly!
A couple of other changes coming up soon aswell, most notably a considered and non-rushed approach to finding a new job. I need something busier, more active and ultimately more rewarding. There's no time limit though.
Back to watching the 5th and final Ashes test, (finally), where we have started off in a mediocre enough fashion but will no doubt let ourselves down with the bat again. I was reminded earlier this evening that I said, before the series began, that I will donate my liver to science if we lost the Ashes series 5-0.
Scientists. Grab your lab coats.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)